Braiding-machine.



A. H. KOHLBERG. BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.Z6, 1912.

- 1 1 78,0 1 9 Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- A. H. KOHLBERG.

BRAIDINGVMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-26. 19I2. 1,178,019, Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED sTATEsrATE T orFioE.

AUGO'ST H. KOHLBERG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO' THE WAITZFELDERBRAID COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BRAIDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Application and August 26, 1912; Serial No. 717,004.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it know-n that I, AUGUST H. Ko'HL- BERG, formerly a subject of the German Emperor, and having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, and residing in the city of New York, countyot Kings, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Braiding- Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to braiding machines and more particularly to machines for braiding a covering over forms or molds which are commonly used for ornamentation, for buttons, and various other purposes.

While my invention is associated with the braiding mechanism proper it relates more particularly to means for feeding and holding the molds over which the machine forms the braid.

Heretofore the molds have been placed into position to be covered by the braiding, and held there, during the covering operation, by hand; and this necessitated an attend-ant at each braiding machine, making the operation thereof comparatively expensive.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means for automatically feeding the molds into position for braiding; and for holding the molds in position until they have been covered with the braid; and for successively feeding the molds, so that, as one mold is covered with braid another will be fed into position to be covered with braid which is formed continuously over the successive molds. The results obtained are a reduction in the cost of operation, since one attendant can attend to quite a number of machines; and the work performed by the machine is made more regular.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which will not only feed the molds automatically, but which will feed molds of various sizes and shapes in order that the device may be adapted for different classes of work.

Another object of my invention is to feed the molds automatically and intermittently while the braiding mechanism operates continuously, in order that the several molds will be separated from each other in the tubular braid, to form an unfilled portion of tubular braid between successive molds, which can be afterward out to separate the molds; and the ends turned into the molds, in the usual manner.

The above objects are accomplished in a device which is very simple in construction and operation and which may be readily attached to ordinary braiding machines now 1n use.

Other objects accomplished in a device embodying all features of my invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a cross section through a braiding machine, showing my invention embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof, taken on the line of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an elevation of the mold feeding device, showing some of the parts in section, Fig. 4: isan enlarged view of some of the parts, taken from the opposite direction to Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken-on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

I have shown my invention associated with an ordinary braidingmachine, but inasmuch .asthe braiding machine is rather complicated I have shown only parts there of as may be necessary to teach the application of the present invention. 7

I have shown the circular frame 1 of the braiding machine, which supports the various spools that travel around the central or braiding point and which travel around able sourceof power, and which operates the braiding mechanism in the usual manner. Any other parts of the braiding machine not herein shown may correspond with those of the usual braiding machine.

To the main shaft 5 which operates the spool carriers, I have secured a shaft 9 as an extension thereof, by means of a coupling 10; and the end of shaft 9 is preferwith the main shaft 5, so that the feeding 1p mechanism will be operated in proper relation to the braiding operations.

The point 12, which isatthe center of the circle of movement of the various spool carriers and somewhat above the same, may be termed the braiding point, that is, the point where the several threads actually form into'braid. The present device relates to the feeding of the molds to this braiding point in proper order.

The present device consists, primarily, of a guide for directing the molds to the braiding point; and while the guiding means may be variously constructed, I prefer to provide a guide which will engage inside the molds by passing through their bores. An advantage derived from a guide of this character is, that it is suitable for all molds, regardless of their outer contour, their diameter or length. For this purpose I providea guiding member 13 in the nature of a needle having a free upper end and terminating at or near the braiding point; and which needle rests in a socket 14'on the cross arm 15 of the machine frame and is held in place by a set screw 16.

A supply of molds 17is threaded over the guide until the uppermost one comes at the upper end of the guide 13 or about in positi on for receiving the braid thereover. The molds are fed upwardly upon the guide in successive relation in order to present a new mold at the braiding point as a previous one moves away with the tubular braid; and the feeding is preferably intermit tent. The devices for feeding the molds automatically may be traced from the operating shaft as follows: Upon the shaft 9 is secured a worm 18 which meshes with a worm gear 19 arranged upon a shaft 20 which is carried upon a cross bar 21 of the frame. The worm gear 19 is revolved according to the speed of operation of the braiding mechanism because it is operated from the main shaft; and it operates continuously. An arm 22 supports a small gear 23 which meshes with and is revolved by, the worm gear 19. A ratchet 24 is also mounted upon a shaft 25 on the cross bar 21 and this is operated intermittently from the small gear 23. A lever arm 26 loosely journaled on the shaft 25, carries an arm 27 which is provided with a number of apertures'28 in its forward end, which are arranged preferably in an arc of a circle. On the gear 23 there is carried a pin 29 to which is fulcrumed a link 30 the other and bent end of which is passed through one of the apertures 28. The gear 23' and pin 29, act

ing in the nature of a crank, operate through the link 30 and arm 27 to reciprocate the lever arm 26. Fulcrumed upon the lever arm 26 is a pawl 31 which is pressed by a spring 32 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 24. Through the above parts the ratchet wheel 24 its shaft 25 are rotated. It is to be observed that the movement has been converted into an intermittent 'movement. A dog 33, mounted on a pin 34 is pressed by a spring 35 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 24 and prevents any backward movement of the ratchet wheel. Secured upon the'same shaft 25 as the ratchet wheel, is a gear 36 which meshes with and operates another gear 37 which in turn is mounted upon a stud 38 supported by the cross bar 21'. An upright rack bar 39 is guided in the bars 15 and 40 and is adapted to be moved up and down therein. On one sideof the bar there is a rack 41 the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the gear 37, whereby the rack bar is raised step by step. 'A dog 42 rocking on a pin 43 is pressed by a spring 44 into-en gagement with the ratchetteeth 45 arranged on one side of the rack bar; and this dog serves to hold the rack bar in position each time it is elevated by the gear 37. The upper end of the rack bar 39 is provided with a laterally extending forked plate 46 the ends 47 of which straddle the guide 13,.engage the lowermost mold 17 and serve to feed the molds upwardly along their guide.

A cross bar 48 is supported upon standards 49 to one side of the center of the machine; and on the .cross bar is supported a former, consisting of a plate 50 having a circular aperture 51 slightly larger than the molds, whereby the latter, with their inclos ing braid, can pass upwardly through the aperture. I have provided'pulleys 52, 53 which are supported over the machine in. any desired manner, over which the braid" travels as it is formed in the machine. A

weight 54 is attached to the depending end 4;;

of the braid which tends to keep the braid sufficiently taut and which takes it away as; fast as it is formed.

Operation: \Vhen the parts are connected up at the commencement of the operation, the rack bar or feeder will be in its lower position; and the molds will be threaded over the guideand resting on the forks 47. Upon starting the operation of the braiding 1nechanism the several threads 58 will commerce the formation of the braidatthe braiding point, below the former. The formationof the braid takes place at the top of the upper? most mold. I mechanism begins to move the stack of molds upwardly, including the uppermost one, over which the braid is forming. The speed of upward feed of the moldswill be equal or substantially equal, to the speed at which the braid is formed around the upper.

the uppermost mold the former 50 will prevent the threads from rising up away from the braiding point except as they be-' come a part of the braid. During the for- 'lic At the same time the feeding most mold. As the braidfis forming around r mation of the braid around the mold the latter is being gradually fed through the eye of the former. At or about the time the braid has been formed to the lower, end of the mold, the upward movement of the feeder will cease. This is the period when the link 80 is on its backward stroke for a half revolution of the gear 23. The feeder will now remain idle, but the braiding operation will continue, so that the braid will continue to form below the mold which was just covered. This will form a contracted tubular portion 59 below the mold. While this contracted portion is forming, the braid will feed upwardly by reason of the action of the weight, the same as during the covering of the mold. \Vhen sufficient contracted or unfilled braid has been formed, the link 30 will commence to move forward again and this will again cause the feeding upwardly of the molds. The braid will now form around the mold which is now uppermost on the guide; and the operation will be the same as that previously described. This automatic feeding of the molds will continue until the supply on the guide becomes exhausted. When that occurs the machine will be stopped and the rack bar lowered. To do this the gear 37 is moved along its shaft in opposition to its spring 37 (see Figs. 2 and 5) sufficiently to throw gear 37 out of mesh from gear 36. Upon disengaging the dog 42 from the rack bar the latter may be lowered; after which the gear 37 is released to allow it to mesh again with gear 36. Upon threading a new supply of molds over the guide 13 the machine is again ready for operation as before.

If longer molds are used, the device may be adjusted to feed such molds and to make the idle interim of the feed the same as for the shorter molds. This will cause the empty portions 59 of the tubular braid to be the same between long molds as between short molds, since there is no advantage in having it otherwise, but rather would there be an unnecessary waste of the braiding material. For this adjustment the end of link 30 is rengaged with a different hole in the arm 27 or in one of the holes 31 of arm 26. After this adjustment the pawl 31 will escape a greater number of teeth on the .ratchet 2a during its backward movement and will therefore move the ratchet a greater distance than before on its forward movement. The result is a longer feed of the rack bar; but the interim between the feeding movements will be the same as before and therefore the intermediate portions 59 of the braid will be the same.

From the above it will appear that I have provided means for automatically feeding molds to the braiding position. The device is not only simple and very easy to operate, but it accomplishes the purpose in a most satisfactory manner.

The above detailed description of what I deem the best embodiment of my invention is not intended to limit the scope of the anneXed claims; modifications in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. I believe I am the first to automatically feed molds to a braiding machine.

I Iaving described my invention, what I clalm is:

1. A braiding machine, comprising braiding mechanism, a needle for receiving molds thereover, and arranged to guide the molds upwardly to the braiding point, and means gradually advancing the molds upwardly over said needle and into the braid as it is formed by said braiding mechanism.

2. In a braiding machine embodying braiding mechanism, a needle for guiding molds to the braiding point, a rack bar for supporting and moving the molds over the needle, and means for operating the rack bar, including a gear operating upon said rack, and a dog arranged to prevent backward movement of the rack bar during its operation by the said gear.

3. In a braiding machine having braiding mechanism, means for automatically and intermittently feeding molds into the braid, and adjusting means whereby the extent of feed of the molds may be adjusted without changing the interim between the feeding operation.

Signed at the city of New York, county of Kings and State of'New York this 23rd day of August 1912. 1

AUGUST H. KOHLBERG.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. WALSH, CHARLES G. HENSLEY.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

